WINS | [2022] Qualifying Final: Penrith 27 Parramatta 8

Friday 9th September at BlueBet Stadium

Penrith 27 – Tries: To’o (2), Edwards (1), Fisher-Harris (1); Goals: Cleary (5); Field goals: Cleary (1) | Parramatta 8

More: themightypanthers.com/match1330.htm

Taylan May was sent to the sin bin in the eleventh minute for a high tackle.

Four minutes later, whilst one player down, the Panthers were first to post points. Nathan Cleary hoisted up a high mid field bomb which was not taken cleanly by the Eels, with Jarome Luai picking up the loose ball, and a chain of short passes found Moses Leota, who on an angled run passed to Brian To’o, who ran back inside and powered his way over around halfway between the uprights and the right touch line. Cleary’s conversion gave Penrith a 6-0 lead.

Parramatta would equalise to make it 6 apiece after 28 minutes.

However, Penrith would hold a half time lead courtesy of a Cleary field goal from 30 metres out with just over two minutes remaining.

Parramatta would score first in the second half with a penalty conversion to make it 8-7 after 46 minutes.

Five minutes later, Penrith regained the lead when To’o scored his second when he crossed over in the right corner.

In the 59th minute, a pin point grubber kick from Cleary pierced through the Eels defensive line and was picked up by Dylan Edwards only metres out and he only had to ground it across the line to claim the try. Cleary’s third conversion from as many attempts pushed it out to 19-8.

Just after the 60 minute mark, Cleary feigned a kick on the last tackle and instead opted to run from 10 metres out, flick passing to James Fisher-Harris who despite attention of numerous Parramatta defenders was able to score adjacent to the left post.

A penalty conversion in the 78th minute iced a dominant second half contest from the minor premiers and made it Penrith’s ever biggest win in a finals match.